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The word podcast is a combination of the words iPod and broadcast. An audio podcast is an audio file that is automatically downloaded to your MP3 device every time you plug it into your computer. A video podcast (or vidcast) works much the same way. Often, podcasts include interviews with interesting people, reviews of performances or news analysis.

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Most podcasts work on a free subscription basis, and this is part of their appeal. Unlike listening to music you already know, the podcast content is always new.

Before you write your own podcast, listen to a wide variety of podcasts to get ideas about the length, the writing style and the tone you want. A podcast shouldn’t simply be the audio version of your print story. Consider how you want to retell the story, and what sounds might make it come alive.

Once you’ve thought of all the elements you want to include in a podcast, it’s time to think about sound elements. Do you need to record someone? Do you need to record a sound effect (for example, the sound at an awards ceremony or the sounds you hear at a carnival)? These sounds are all easily recorded on an inexpensive hand-held recorder, but they do require some planning. If you are writing a story and a podcast about safety issues at the carnival, remember to take your recorder along when you go to the carnival. Always check your recording before you leave an interview to make sure you actually have recorded the interview successfully.

Most likely, you’ll collect a lot more sound material than you have time to use in the podcast. Three minutes is roughly the maximum amount of attention that people are willing to give to a radio story, a TV news story or a podcast. It can seem overwhelming to turn a 30-minute interview into a two-to-three minute podcast. An easy way to start is to pick out all the quotes from an interview that you want to use.

And, obviously, choose a topic that you are interested in. Have fun!